EF uses big plays to top Mt. Pleasant

By Paul Schofield

Trib Total Media

Friday’s first-place showdown in the WPIAL Class 3A Interstate Conference was filled with big plays.

No. 3 Elizabeth Forward (5-0, 4-0), led by senior Nico Mrvos, made a few more and escaped No. 5 Mt. Pleasant with a 16-14 victory.

Mrvos, who played quarterback and receiver, raced 70 yards for a score on the first play of the second quarter, tossed a 67-yard touchdown pass to Zach Boyd in the fourth quarter and iced the win with a 34-yard run. The Warriors, who played without starting quarterback/safety Evan Lewis, took over sole possession of first place in the conference

Lewis injured his knee in last week’s double overtime win against South Allegheny and is out for the season. Freshman Vernon Settles and Mrvos shared the quarterback duties.

“Nico is an amazing player,” Elizabeth Forward coach Mike Collodi said. “Mt. Pleasant is a good football team and gave us a battle. It’s tough losing a player like Evan.”

Elizabeth Forward’s defense withstood a couple early threats from Mt. Pleasant (4-2, 4-1), which drove to the EF 5 on its first possession and the EF 20 on its second possession. Mrvos stopped the second drive with an interception.

“We just made too many mistakes,” Mt. Pleasant coach Jason Fazekas said. “Despite three turnovers, a couple bad snaps and a couple penalties and were still in the game. I thought the defense played great and we gave great effort.”

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